No one told me when I first got into this writing business that I’d be standing before large and small groups and organizations these past thirteen years, talking books and this art form I’d chosen to pursue. It comes easy to me, because I’m a natural born BSer, but some find standing before the public to be a daunting task.
Through the years I’ve learned that different audiences have their own personalities. Some small groups are in a party mood, ready to be entertained and full of questions and comments. On the flip side, I’ve talked to groups who stared at me as if I owed them money, only to have the attendees swarm the signing table saying I was the best presenter they’d heard in years.
Go figure.
Large audiences are typically more open and responsive. You just never know.
Civic organizations always need speakers, and I’ll talk to them all. Dinner clubs are fun, and those folks are usually full of questions, which I love.
I have no set talk. I verbally wander around like a toddler lost in Walmart, starting out with one idea and getting distracted by a recollection only to bounce onto another anecdote or writing tip. I watch people out there with pen and paper, scribbling furiously to keep up as I offer suggestions ranging from authors I like, to those who influenced me, to books on writing and publishing.
Talking about books and writing is almost a hobby for me. I look forward to different groups interested in learning the trade. In fact, this coming September I have the honor of being the first author to appear in the inaugural Garland, Texas, community-wide reading program called One Book, One Garland. According to organizers, the goal is to get as many community members to read Hard Country as possible and to hold a three-day series of programs and events.
Saturday, September 14 at 6pm – Evening with the author: Talk on Reavis’ personal journey to publication, followed by book signing.
Thursday, September 19 at 7pm – (More exclusive event) Author visit with our book clubs: This will be a collection of at least three book clubs in the Garland area. They will be combined for one meeting to talk with the members and the Friends of the Library about Hard Country.
Friday, September 20 at 6pm – Writing workshop
Hard Country is my most recent novel, featuring a contemporary special ranger for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. These agents investigate rural crimes, and my characters, Tucker and Harley Snow, are based on two brothers who worked undercover narcotics here in the state back in the 80s and 90s. The novel is based on a real meth house that was across the gravel road from our ranch in Oklahoma, and it debuted as one of Amazon’s picks for the month of August, 2023.
My talk for the Evening with the Author, “The Road to Publication and Other Great Disasters” is the most popular presentation I have, and it’s full of information, humor, and anecdotes about writing.
I’m excited to speak before any group. This past week I met with a retired teachers association to discuss my early career in public education, and then this second career as an author. Another such organization in a different part of the state is on the books next month.
On the day of this post, I’ll be in Dallas, part of a panel discussing literature as a whole, publishing, and “common misconceptions people have about being an author.”
Now that’s funny.
It takes time from writing, but in my opinion, it’s an essential part of being a successful author.
So what do you think? Is this difficult for you? Do you take the Cormac McCarthy path and avoid talking in public, or are you like me, do you set your soul on fire for the sheer joy of talking with readers and fans?
This is an aspect of writing life I honestly haven’t thought much about but I cringe at the thought of any public speaking. However, I’m not planning to write books I don’t care about so I should be able to speak on the topics (however inexperienced I may be as a speaker) and I think it comes naturally to writers, given the solitary nature of the work, that we want to help others by discussing our path to publication or completing a novel.
The one possible snag I can think of is if someone challenges you on a fact. I’m thinking in terms of historical fiction. I love history & try to ensure I’m accurate. But I also have limited time so can’t research everything under the sun (though I wish I could!). I also have found it to be true that ‘there’s always someone smarter than you.” I don’t care what our area of knowledge or expertise, there’s always someone out there with more info. Hopefully if such a confrontation comes up, I can handle it with grace.
Have you ever had that happen? Where someone confronts you on something in a book? How did it go?
It has happened, and they were wrong, but few people want to challenge you in public. You can’t let “what ifs” get in your way. Get up there and have fun!
The more practice I have at public speaking, the better I like it. When I started and was quite nervous, I’d write copious notes about the subject so I wouldn’t forget anything important. I still do that for certain topics and audiences, esp. when teaching.
Joint talks with author friends and group panels really helped me get over nerves b/c the focus wasn’t entirely on me. That alleviated a lot of the pressure.
The more comfortable you are with the subject, the easier it is to talk about. Do your homework and practice beforehand.
The best events turn into conversations with the audience when they ask questions. Early on, I assumed they’d be bored by the writing process but I was wrong–they are interested in how/where writers come up with ideas and how we develop them.
Book clubs esp. set my soul on fire. The most fun ever was when a group of 20 women broke into two camps. One argued the female character was right, the other argued the male character was right. I just sat back, listened, and soaked up the reasons for their conflicting opinions. Truly fascinating to learn how differently readers react and perceive the story.
I jump at every opportunity to speak to a group. (As luck would have it, I will spend tomorrow judging an oratorical competition at the the American Legion hall in Towson, Maryland.) The loss of that opportunity was one of the (many) great disappointments of the Covid shutdowns. Now that normal times have more or less returned, I’m working to get back into the speaking circuit.
BK, not to speak for Rev, but the secret to handling any challenging question is to be completely honest about the limits of your knowledge or research. Nothing disarms a know-it-all challenger quite as effectively as a warm thanks for teaching you something you didn’t know before.
Readers and fans WANT to hear from us. You’re right. Just relax and have a conversation. Audiences mostly want stories and anecdotes, not dry speeches and facts.
Oops, that comment to John was supposed to be a response to Debbie. Not sure what happened there, but John and I had a great discussion when I was a guest of honor in Indianapolis. We just relaxed and talked.
When I was younger, public speaking was a challenge for me, but years working at the library, helping present and host programs and giving sudden “nickel tours” of the library to groups helped me become practiced at it. I’ve been on panels at numerous science fiction conventions over the years, moderating a number of them as well, and that has also helped. I’ve also given several presentations over the past five years to our local writer’s organization. Practice may not make perfect, but it makes things flow more smoothly and can really help you relax.
I’m moderating a panel discussion at Left Coast Crime in Seattle next month, and will be on another panel. This is my first mystery convention, but, thanks to all the previous practice, I’m really looking forward to speaking publicly.
I absolutely LOVE speaking to bookish people! I’ve rarely had opportunities to do so, but wish I did.
While working on a Superfund toxic waste remediation site, my boss told me one Friday that he was supposed to address an EPA conference in Atlanta on the following Monday morning. He’d decided not to go and asked me to go instead. The speech hadn’t been written, the travel reservations hadn’t been made, and the slides (from a previous paper) were incomplete. On Monday, the last slides arrived at 10:10. I spoke at 10:30. Total conference attendance was 500.
My Toastmasters training paid off; I got compliments on my presentation.
For the insatiably curious: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333703828